The Ass Carrying the Image

A certain man put an Image on the back of his Ass to take it to
one of the temples of the town. As they went along the road all the
people they met uncovered and bowed their heads out of reverence
for the Image; but the Ass thought they were doing it out of
respect for himself, and began to give himself airs accordingly. At
last he became so conceited that he imagined he could do as he
liked, and, by way of protest against the load he was carrying, he
came to a full stop and flatly declined to proceed any further. His
driver, finding him so obstinate, hit him hard and long with his
stick, saying the while, "Oh, you dunder-headed idiot, do you
suppose it's come to this, that men pay worship to an Ass?"

— Rude shocks await those who take to themselves the
credit that is due to others.